All hail ‘The Queen:’ Fountain Valley resident Dorothy Powell turns 102
At the conclusion of her birthday party, Dorothy Powell got to her feet and announced her departure from the room.
“The queen is leaving,” Powell said, a regal crown sitting upon her head.
Powell turned 102 years young on Thursday and celebrated the milestone with about two dozen of her closest friends at Carmel Village retirement community in Fountain Valley.
“This is a surprise,” Powell said. “I didn’t realize I felt so good, I was in such good health until I came here. I didn’t appreciate it, well, I did. … I just take one day at a time, and that’s it.”
Sharing her wisdom, Powell offered up the importance of practicing moderation, but she said the true secret to longevity is far more personal: love.
“A loving family and for me to give back my love,” Powell said. “That’s the way I’ve been all my life. Just be kind, nice [and] don’t overdo things.”
The message has been received, as Powell had quite a long list of well-wishers hoping to get in touch with her for her big day.
“I had so many phone calls today,” she said. “It was ‘boom, boom.’ I must have gotten 20.”
The queen held court Thursday afternoon, and she was serenaded with several renditions of the “Happy Birthday” song, during which she was affectionately called “Dottie.”
“I just like being around people,” said Powell, who has also taken a liking to playing bingo. “I always have. I’ve always been a hostess.”
The feeling is mutual for those who attended the party.
“We should all be lucky enough to have a friend like Dottie,” resident Ella Roberts said.
A humorous moment occurred when the No. 2 balloon from the set-forming 102 floated away, for a time showing that Powell could have been celebrating her 10th birthday.
Powell was born in Massachusetts. The longtime Costa Mesa resident moved out from the East Coast following World War II with her husband, who she said was a commander in the Navy.
Powell noted she has lived to see her son and his wife enjoy a 54-year marriage of their own.
“She loves to sit out in the courtyard and talk to everybody that comes by,” said David Kuzmiak, director of sales and marketing for Carmel Village. “And, of course, bingo. She’s very, very big on that, too, but it’s really her interaction with the rest of the residents, just says hello to everyone, and just has that positive spirit every single day.”
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